first (adj.) Copy link Outline 1. prīmus (of time, place, rank)2. princeps, cĭpis (esp. of rank or importance)3. prīmōris, e (less freq. than preced. words, and rarely of time) • first (adj.): 1. prīmus (of time, place, rank): the six legions which had come f., sex legiones quae primae venerant, Caes.: the f. place on the march, p. locus itineris, Caes.: undoubtedly the f. man in his town, sui municipii facile p., Cic. R. Am. 6, init.: to play the f. part, primas (partes) agere, tenere (v. foremost). Very freq. is the phr. in (cum) primis: his mother is said to have been among the f. to bring a stone, dicitur mater in primis lapidem tulisse, Nep. Paus. extr.: Cic. N.B. When the comparison is between two only, prior, us, must be used: Pyrrha f. breaks silence, rumpit silentia Pyrrha prior, Ov. Met. 1, 384: to speak f. on a trial (of the counsel for either side), priore loco causam dicere, Cic. Quint. 2, 7: v. former, superior. 2. princeps, cĭpis (esp. of rank or importance): they were the f. to promise money, p. pecuniae pollicendae erant, Cic. Phil. 7, 23: he was the f. to enter the fight and the last to quit it, p. in proelium ibat, ultimus conserto proelio excedebat, Liv. 21, 4: he was the f. who ventured, p. ausus est, Cic. de Or. 3, 32, 129: v. chief, foremost. 3. prīmōris, e (less freq. than preced. words, and rarely of time): the f. teeth (after birth), p. dentes, Plin. 7, 16, 15: at f. sight, p. aspectu, Gell. 7, 2, init.: the f. (foremost) men of the people, primores populi, Hor. Comp. foll. art.